After moving from San Antonio to Austin, I found that H-E-B was indeed present when I went to the market.

To be honest, when I first came to Texas, I thought, "Aren't all supermarkets the same?" But after experiencing H-E-B, I quickly understood why this market is special in Texas. Recently, a survey by a research company called Ipsos revealed that H-E-B ranked first in customer satisfaction among 14 major grocery chains in the U.S.

In this survey, H-E-B received high scores in various areas such as inventory management, convenience of pickup reservations, and friendliness of pickup assistance. In my own experience, I rarely encountered situations where the desired products were unavailable, and the ordered items were always ready, which gave me confidence. Moreover, as the pickup time approached, I received text notifications, so there was no hassle at all.

What was most welcome was the change in the pickup fee policy. Previously, there was a $4.95 fee for each curbside pickup order, but now it is free for purchases over $35. In fact, when shopping, it's easy to exceed $35, so practically, most people can enjoy the benefit for free.

If the amount is not met, you only need to pay $2.95, which is not a significant burden. When I first came to Austin and experienced H-E-B, I had no idea such convenient services existed, but now it has become a natural part of my life, which is quite surprising.

It turns out that H-E-B started its curbside service in 2015, and in fact, it began online sales three years earlier in 2012. I found it interesting that the first online order item was a custom-made cake.

Another impressive point was that H-E-B acquired Favor, a delivery service company based in Austin, in 2018. Now, Favor operates as a subsidiary of H-E-B, making deliveries even smoother. Thanks to this, a system has been established where I can receive necessary items right at home.

According to the Ipsos survey, Publix from Florida ranked second, and the German-based Aldi ranked third after H-E-B. However, based on my experience living in Austin, I believe that no matter how well Publix or Aldi performs, it is difficult to provide the same level of community-focused service and convenience as H-E-B.

Ultimately, this difference seems to lead to brand loyalty. In fact, when I go shopping, I simply open the H-E-B app, add the desired items, and reserve a pickup during a convenient time, which is really convenient. Sometimes I think, 'Isn't this just as efficient as delivery right to my doorstep?'

Looking back, grocery shopping used to feel like a big weekend chore, but in Austin, thanks to H-E-B, it has become an enjoyable part of my routine. Whether ordering early in the morning or late at night, I can receive a neatly prepared shopping basket the next day, and the freshness is maintained as if I had picked it out myself in the store, which is very satisfying.